2018-08-22 Wed

The first Netherlands stamps appeared in January 1852. During the last decade of the 19th century new era of postage began. New definitive postage stamps were necessitated by a change in the Dutch monarchy at the end of 1890. The new postage stamps were known as the "Princess Wilhelmina Issue".

On November 23, 1890, King William III of the Netherlands died. He outlived his two sons, by his first marriage, and his only remaining heir, from his second marriage, was his 10-year-old daughter, Princess Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina immediately ascended to the throne, upon the death of her father, but she was too young to rule on her own or to be invested as the queen. Her mother, the Dowager Queen Emma, ruled as regent, until Wilhelmina became eighteen years of age in 1898.

The Netherlands Post issued a set of 11 definitive postage stamps honouring the new and young yet ‘constitutional’ monarch of the country. With the denomination ranging from 3 cents to 1 Guld, the stamps were issued between 1891 and 1894.

The stamps feature the portrait of Yong Princess Wilhelmina with flowing hair on the shoulders in a circle. The name of the country is at the top which is flanked by the coat of arms and the denomination is at the bottom.

These stamps are referred to by philatelists as the "Princess Wilhelmina Issue".

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com